The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-27
A COLONY OF RUSSIAN FANATICS.
Religionists in Whose Homes the Cry of
Babe Is Never Heard.

John P. Jackson, IN New York Mail and Express.
Ten miles from Yakutsk is one of the mos
remarkable colonies of that most remarkable
sect of religious fanatics who renounce the joys
of life; in whose home the cry of babe is never
heard; whose brothers and sisters" do not pro-
vide for descendants in this world. The village
is called Marshka, and the community numbers
169 men and 124 women. 1 paid visit to their
village. and found it remarkable for it's order
and cleanliness. All around were fields careful
" fenced in with rails, and in the village itself
two wndmills. evidence of an industrial farm
ing population not found elsewhere on the Lena.
Enter one of these Skopzi homes. in the court
or farm-yard and you will find that the greatest
nsatness and order prevail, not implement
or sled that has not been carefully cleaned
and put in its proper place. Enter the house
and you are at once surprised with the order
and cleanliness and comfort that prevail. The
Skopzi themselves are as kindly and gentle in
their ways as girls. They neither drink intoxi-
eating drinks nor smoke tobacco nor eat meat
Their voices are not effeminate as imagined
/ should find; being much different in tone
from the ordinary run of Russian peasant youth,
Il seemed. indeed as If they had retained the
voice they possessed in early youth at the tin
when they were received into the sect. OF the
women / only caught a glimpse OF two before
they went out of sight. hs sisters, as they
are called. did not show themselves in the
houses. They seem TO be as carefully shielded
from the vulgar gaze as are the hours of
Turkish harem. Those that L caught sight of
were young. not over twenty-five at most. fair
and comedy to view. OF children, OF course
saw none.
From my notes, written at the time, I Gull
the following data, supplied to by DIR. Ca
pela, a physician of Yakutsk, who had spent
nearly all his life in Governor Tchernaief7s cap
ital Most of the men had Joined q sect at the
age of nineteen or twenty. Why thus early in
life they renounce the pleasures of the world.
the flesh and the devil. DIR. Capeilo was not able
to say, but he was inclined to think the reason
was frequently from remorss after a debauched
life, and sometimes from the melancholy pro-
duced by disease or abuse.
OF the actual joys of life such young Rus
sian peasant at twenty knows nothing that is
elevatng His life is spent in atmosphere
that is morally diseased. and be easily succumbs
to the persuasion OF members of the sect 9TH
or penitent like himself 10 undergo mutilation.
A gentleman told that his coachman,
who joined the sect about four years
before my visit, gave the following reasons
for his doing so: With companion he
had lived a low and debauched life for some
years One day, after debaueh lasting longer
than usual, the twain found themselves in
condition resembling recovery from delirium
tremens, and without kopeck in their pockets.
Said the other to the coachman: "Come, let
give MP this life and become Skopzi. Then
shall know no more temptation, and, besides.
can get some ready money if we join" So they
agreed TO turn Skopzi They made their request
known, and after interview with the elders
of the community, declared their readiness to